Richard Colbeck (Tasmania, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I too would like to add my voice and associate myself with the comments of my colleagues in relation to the late Hon. Kevin Andrews. I think I probably worked with him a bit longer than most people in this place, with a slight interregnum after 2016. But the terminology that all my colleagues have expressed in respect of the way Kevin conducted himself and the way that he participated in debate shows that he certainly was a strong advocate for his values and for the things that he believed in. He was prepared to put himself out there in support of those things, and, as Senator Canavan has just said, sometimes that's an extremely difficult thing to do. Sometimes it's a lonely place to be. But, to be frank, that's the point of being here. That's why we come here: to represent the people that have elected us to do those things, to express those views and, obviously, to represent our communities.

Kevin did that in so many ways, but he always did that with a high level of dignity, respect—and respect for this institution. Sadly, some people forget the importance and the significance of the huge privilege that it is to serve in this place and the good that you can do in representing the values and the principles that you bring to this place. Now, I'm quite happy to say that, on a number of occasions, I didn't necessarily agree with Kevin and the arguments that he was putting, but I was proud to serve in the same party room as him. I think that the breadth of values and opinions that are expressed in that party room is one of the real values of the system that I'm a part of as a member of my party. There were a number of times that I walked into the party room not necessarily certain of the particular stance that I might finally take on a matter. But participating in the debate in my party room and then all walking out together to put forward a position that we had agreed upon amongst us in the party room is a very powerful thing, and one to value, and Kevin was someone who was always prepared to make a contribution in that sense.

We, as large political parties, are often derided for the fact that we are political parties. The public is told that we are told what to say and do. Those of us that are in the room know that we have our conversations, and I've seen individual voices, as Senator Canavan has just indicated, change the view of a prime minister and the party room and change the position of the party. It's an important process that we should all undertake, and Kevin always did that in a very, very respectful way—forceful, strong, but respectful—and I think that's a real value that he brought to this parliament over a very proud career that exceeded 30 years, which is something to be extremely proud of for him, but also for Margie and his family.

Margie herself was quite a regular visitor here in the building, and I'm very thankful for the friendship that both Kevin and Margie extended to Gaylene and me, because there was a time when our partners were an important part of this place, and I think the place was better for it, to be honest. Senator Canavan mentioned the importance of his family. I agree. For any single one of us, our greatest legacy is our family: our kids, our grandkids—for those that have them; for those that don't, it's something to look forward to. Kevin was exceedingly proud of his family and the important job that he was doing to make this country a better place for them.

So I'm very happy to add my voice to and associate myself with the comments of my colleagues in relation to the extraordinary career of Kevin and the support that he received from Margie and his family to do this job. I express my condolences to Margie and to his family more broadly and to his broader community of friends, who I know were extremely close to Kevin. I trust that all of those people, particularly Margie and the family, can find comfort in the very warm memories of Kevin that we all hold. So I express my condolences to Kevin and, as others have done, say vale to the Hon. Kevin Andrews.

Question agreed to, honourable senators joining in a moment of silence.